Spilling the Tea on the Movie Star Who Won't Leave Me Alone - Chapter 52

Gu Jingxuan was only an amateur when it came to Kunqu Opera. The only things he could teach Xu Chi were the few bits of professional knowledge he still remembered; if he were actually asked to teach Xu Chi how to sing Kunqu seriously, it would simply be making life difficult for him.

Xu Chi played along, listening earnestly to “Teacher Little Gu’s” lessons and memorizing every detail without missing a single beat.

By the time Professor Wang came to check on his progress, Xu Chi could recite the knowledge of Kunqu almost word-for-word.

“Haha, you have a good memory, young man,” Professor Wang nodded with satisfaction. “But Kunqu is not something you can sing well just by memorizing the basics. First, you must express its charm and spirit.”

“Jingxuan told me you are going to play a female role. In that case, you must first understand the poise and attitude of a Jiangnan woman when she is in front of the man she loves.”

Professor Wang’s words turned Xu Chi’s entire face bright red. He bit his lower lip lightly, his eyes constantly darting toward Gu Jingxuan.

“With only three days, we definitely cannot focus on training your voice. I will teach you a segment from The Peony Pavilion first.” Professor Wang stood behind Xu Chi, holding his arms to correct his posture.

“Raise your right hand a little higher.”

“Lift your hips slightly more.”

“Do not shake; you will be holding a silk handkerchief then.”

While Xu Chi studied Kunqu with Professor Wang, Gu Jingxuan sat to the side, chin resting on his hand, watching him quietly.

Whenever they reached a particularly alluring pose, he would secretly snap a photo with his phone and save it in his private album.

“This child… actually looks a lot like Little Shen, hahaha.”

Professor Wang’s sudden voice pulled Gu Jingxuan back from his daydreaming. For a moment, he did not react to what was said.

“Sigh, it is just a pity that Little Shen did not choose the right path.”

As he spoke, Professor Wang shook his head, his face full of regret.

Hearing the name “Little Shen” suddenly from the professor’s mouth made Gu Jingxuan’s heart tighten, as if it were being squeezed in someone’s hand.

“Why bring him up? Once he grew up, he stopped letting people call him ‘Little Girl.’ If he knew, he would start another argument with you.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Gu Jingxuan realized that those past events were still clearly etched in his mind.

His gaze fell upon Xu Chi, who was on the other side tilting his head back to drink water. Beads of sweat slid down the contours of his face, leaving a glistening trail on his slender neck.

Do they look alike?

As Gu Jingxuan spent more time with Xu Chi, he had almost started to forget what Xu Chi looked like when they first met.

“You kid, you are still the same as before.” Professor Wang patted Gu Jingxuan’s shoulder and walked over to say something to Xu Chi, making the younger man laugh while holding his water bottle.

Gu Jingxuan let out a long breath, but the stifling air in his chest remained, making him feel increasingly uneasy.

After Professor Wang left, only Xu Chi and Gu Jingxuan remained in the practice room.

Turning his head, Xu Chi saw Gu Jingxuan leaning against the metal barre used for leg stretches, head tilted back as if lost in thought.

The curtains of the floor-to-ceiling windows were open. Outside, the snow was nearly melted under the sun’s glow, reflecting a somewhat piercing light. The tree branches were bare, and not even a bird’s nest could be seen, looking quite pitiful in the harsh winter.

“What are you thinking about?” Xu Chi walked over and waved a hand in front of Gu Jingxuan’s eyes.

Every time he got close to Gu Jingxuan, Xu Chi would find himself mesmerized by the man’s long, thin eyelashes.

Hearing Xu Chi’s voice, Gu Jingxuan did not move. His eyes remained fixed on the snow-white ceiling, his pupils appearing somewhat vacant.

“Brother Gu?”

Xu Chi had never seen Gu Jingxuan in such a state. He could not help but feel a bit afraid, so he reached out to nudge Gu Jingxuan’s shoulder.

“Hmm.”

“What is wrong? Brother Gu, are you okay?”

The wind was still blowing outside, hitting the glass windows with a sound that was somewhat frightening.

Gu Jingxuan stretched and took the opportunity to wrap his arms around Xu Chi’s waist, rubbing his face against Xu Chi’s chest.

“I am fine. I just wanted to hold you.”

When Gu Jingxuan’s voice dropped into that low, slightly raspy, magnetic tone, it made Xu Chi’s legs feel so weak he could hardly stand.

Reaching out to encircle Gu Jingxuan, Xu Chi looked down and sniffed the top of his head. Then, he ran his fingers through Gu Jingxuan’s hair, mussing it gently.

“Patting the fur, no need to be scared.”

Hearing Xu Chi’s words by his ear, Gu Jingxuan finally laughed. He broke away from Xu Chi’s embrace and looked at him with a mock-menacing expression.

Before Xu Chi could react, Gu Jingxuan reached out his “evil claws” and fiercely tousled Xu Chi’s hair until it became a messy bird’s nest.

“How bold of you, daring to touch my hair.” Gu Jingxuan looked fierce, but his strength was gentle, not hurting Xu Chi at all. “Do you not know that one can lose their head and shed their blood, but their hairstyle must never be ruined?”

Xu Chi laughed while dodging Gu Jingxuan’s hands, obediently pleading for mercy as he moved.

“Brother Gu, I was wrong! Don’t!”

From standing and playing around, the two eventually ended up lying on the floor together. Gu Jingxuan somehow ended up pinning Xu Chi to the ground. His thigh was positioned right between Xu Chi’s legs; if he moved up just a little more, he would touch somewhere he shouldn’t.

Gu Jingxuan suddenly thought of Xu Chi’s body, which he had seen back at the hot spring. They had been together for nearly a week, but Xu Chi had never told him about it.

Since it was the first love for both of them, their interactions were incredibly modest. Gu Jingxuan felt embarrassed to pester Xu Chi for “benefits” in bed so early, and Xu Chi felt too shy to speak of such things directly.

Thinking about it now, Gu Jingxuan realized he had been so lightheaded with joy from Xu Chi accepting his confession that he had forgotten the question regarding Xu Chi’s body.

So, why was Xu Chi unwilling to tell him?

Was it because he felt like a monster, or because he did not trust him enough, thinking he would be disgusted if the truth came out?

With a bit of mischief, Gu Jingxuan lifted his leg slightly, brushing against Xu Chi’s underwear. He felt the person beneath him turn rigid, accompanied by an almost imperceptible tremble.

Xu Chi pushed Gu Jingxuan away in a panic, his expression so tense it was as if Gu Jingxuan’s action had caused him great humiliation.

Gu Jingxuan knew in his heart that Xu Chi was afraid, afraid that things would progress to the point where they had to take off their pants.

Dusting off his hands, Gu Jingxuan stood up from the floor, unbothered. His expression returned to its usual mix of warmth and slight flippancy.

“Brother Gu, I am sorry. I did not mean to.”

Xu Chi’s push had been quite forceful, and he regretted it the moment he did it.

He had actually thought about telling Gu Jingxuan the truth. One can hide for a while, but not forever. They were both adults; eventually, this matter would be discovered. It would be better to tell him personally than to have Gu Jingxuan stumble upon it, as it would at least be less of a shock.

“Brother Gu, there is something I want to tell you.”